Top 6 Digital Marketing Trends for 2019

Well, we blinked and 2019 is a few short months away. Can you relate? As you’re entering Q4, you most likely have your 2019 budget, business and marketing plans on the brain. Feeling overwhelmed with how to set your 2019 marketing strategy and don’t know where to start? We’ve got some things for you to consider. We’ve dug into the research and compiled a list of the top digital marketing trends for 2019 and where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.   

No Longer Just for Talking…

Mobile Devices: Year after year we’re seeing enormous growth in mobile usage. It’s understandable. People want information at their fingertips and smart phones provide that.  In fact, users are now spending more time on mobile than on desktop. With this shift, it’s time to make sure your site is mobile optimized - not only for the user experience but also to ensure you rank on google in mobile searches.  Carve out money in your marketing budget for mobile advertising and shift the way you think about advertising focused on the mobile experience. We've begun having discussions with our clients about the AMP (accelerated mobile pages) project as near term considerations for optimizations. Still on the fence on the importance of mobile? According to A Medium Corporation, a whopping 50% of users who search for a local business on mobile visit that business within 24 hours. Make sure your brand or company is seen.

Annnd Action!

Video: Businesses should consider adding live and traditional video to their 2019 digital marketing strategy. Why? Because video is expected to account for 85% of total internet traffic in 2019.  That’s huge. Think YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn for your video platforms and get that camera rolling. Video ads are on the rise as well. More than half of ad impressions on Instagram in 2018 were thanks to video content.

Keep Hitting Send!

Email Marketing: When it comes to digital engagement channels, email remains a top contender for garnering attention and conversions for your brand or company. Tailoring your content to your audience is crucial though. For instance, Baby Boomers spend more time consuming content than any other generation. If your target audience falls into the Millennial or Generation X category, it’s best to keep your content short and to the point. Get personal - segment your lists, use first names and talk directly to your audience with empathy and resolution. Remember, no need to cram every bit of content in a monthly newsletter. Get focused, custom and build a relationship. As you build your lists, get serious about utilizing advertising opportunities to leverage your contacts on social, google and other targeted opportunities outside of the inbox.

Get Social!

Social Media: These days, people are spending more time on social media than they are watching tv, so make sure you’re capitalizing. With consumers spending so much time on social, social media ad spend is expected to double over the next five years. Majority of companies have some type of presence on social platforms but being strategic in your organic and paid social campaigns is critical to avoid getting lost in the noise. Again, knowing your audience is important. (Keep in mind, your audience may be different for each social platform you use.)

This is Key…

Keyword Clustering: As with anything in the digital world, SEO is constantly evolving. An emerging trend that’s proving to be a game changer in the digital world and SEO efforts is keyword clustering. In the most basic sense, keyword clustering (also known as topic clustering) allows you to come up with an overall theme for your content and then create sub themes that roll back up to your overall theme in turn creating more searchable content. Two key factors in seeing success with keyword clustering: 1. comprehensive content created through keyword and audience research and 2. a strong internal linking system ensuring that your sub themes all link back to your central topic or theme.  

Everyone Loves a Good Story….

Storytelling: Due to all the noise out there, people are looking for brands and companies they feel emotionally connected to now more than ever. Make sure you’re telling your brand’s story cohesively on all your digital platforms. Clarify your message, help your customers identify their problem, and position yourself as the guide to fixing their problem. Don’t try to be the hero in your customer’s story. Trying to be the hero will keep your customer distant. Brands that position themselves as the hero are actually competing with their customers. Be the guide.

We look forward to working closely with you to prepare a strategic and successful 2019 marketing plan. Not a current SpotOn client? Reach out, we’d love to hear what you have in mind for 2019.